Now that he has commited to the draft will Jodie Meeks slip into the first round?
This is my Mock Draft from Trueball. Now that I am blogging for Raptors Rapture I thought I would share. Comment if you agree, disagree, or think I am leaving out someone you think deserves to go in the first round.
Now that all of the prospects for the 2009 draft have either decided to stay in college or leave for the NBA we have another mock draft update for you. The big surprises were Gani Lawal returning to school and Austin Daye staying in the draft but most decisions were expected. So now I give you the sixth version of our NBA Mock Draft:
1) LA Clippers: Blake Griffin (Highlights) – best player in the draft by a mile, imagine this team in 3-4 years with Gordon, Thorton, and now Griffin (and hopefully without Zach Randolph). However if history means anything the Clippers will screw this pick up somehow.
2) Memphis: Hasheem Thabeet (Highlights) – Conley showed promise last season and their front court of Arthur, Milicic, and Gasol can use an upgrade. Rubio is a better player than Thabeet but forward/center is a position of need for Memphis and Rubio has said he doesn’t want to play there. Welcome to the league Dikembe 2.0.
3) OK City: Ricky Rubio (Highlights) – Rubio won’t play in OK City so the team trades him to Sacramento for the player they want at 4 (Harden) and another player (Ike Diogu is my guess). The Kings are desperate for a point guard. With Rubio and Martin in the backcourt and Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes down low the Kings will have a solid young group to build around.
4) Sacramento: James Harden (Highlights) – OK City will tell the Kings to draft Harden for them in exchange for Rubio. Harden is the best shooting guard in this draft. He can create his own shot or shoot from distance when set up by Westbrook. With Green, Westbrook, and Durant the Thunder have the best young 1-4 players in the league and should be an elite team in 3-4 years. Now all the Thunder need is a center and some depth.
5) Washington: Tyreke Evans (Highlights) – Evans is quickly becoming one of the most prized prospects in the draft and the Wizards already have McGee, a Jordan Hill clone with an extra 2 inches. Haywood will return this year so McGee, Blatche, Jamison, and McGee make up a solid front court. Tyreke Evans showed why he was considered by some to be the best prep player last year and with a great season at Memphis he filled the HUGE shoes left behind by #1 overall selection Derrick Rose. Young will provide scoring off the bench and Evans will start at the 2 guard beside Arenas.
6) Minnesota: Johnny Flynn (Highlights) – they have a stable of good young big men, and while Telfair showed improvement last year this team NEEDS a scoring guard to compliment Foye. Flynn has moved more than anyone else since my first mock draft. Flynn is was one of my favorite players in college last season and showed NBA scouts the full package: speed, strength, 3-pt range, and all important leadership at the 1. With Flynn, Telfair, Foye, Rodney Carney, and Corey Brewer the Timberwolves will have a solid young backcourt for the future.
7) Golden State: Brandon Jennings (Highlights) – After a short fall to 10 Jennings returns to his long time spot as the Warriors selection. Jennings is Monta Ellis 2.0 but with better ball handling skills. He struggled in Europe playing under 20 mpg but showed enough promise to warrant a top 10 pick. With Ellis, Jackson, and Crawford already crowding the backcourt Jennings will once again come off the bench but in time should earn a starting spot. In other unrelated news Jennings beats out Will Smith for best high top fad ever.
8 ) NY Knicks: Stephen Curry (Highlights) – 1) imagine Dantoni’s offense with a lights out shooter who can score from anywhere 2) imagine what Curry can do on a team with other options beyond himself. Finally some consistent national exposure for Curry who toiled away in Rayleigh for the past three seasons. Also great news for NY fans, his mom is an absolute fox!
9) Toronto: Jordan Hill (Highlights) – Hill is starting to fall because: 1) other players like Evans and Flynn are moving up 2) Hill is young and athletic but showed in pre draft work outs he doesn’t have many low post moves and needs to add some weight. Still Hill is a top 10 draft pick and will add some much needed depth to the Raptors depth chart. With Bosh likely out this offseason and definitely after the season Hill can develop behind Bosh and then take over next season.
10) Milwaukee: Demar DeRozen (Highlights) – DeRozen had a slow start in college but was one of the best players in the country in the last 1/4 of the season. DeRozen has the physical tools to transition quickly to the NBA but at 19 he still needs to develop some of the finer points of the game. If Sessions and Villanueva return the starting lineup of Sessions, Redd, Jefferson, Villanueva, and Bogut with DeRozen as a threat off the bench the Bucks could be good next year. DeRozen will be allowed to develop on the bench which is perfect for the 19 year old DeRozen.
11) New Jersey: James Johnson (Highlights) – the best player available and can play either the 3 or 4, the Nets need a big man to compliment Lopez and a 3 to help Carter and Harris in the backcourt. Johnson’s skill set allows him to give the the Nets both a low post player and a wing scorer. Johnson is not a solid fundamental player, in the mold of fellow Demon Decon Tim Duncan, but is extremely athletic and should succeed in the NBA if he can become consistent.
12) Charlotte: Gerald Henderson (Highlights) – the Bobcats need a 2 guard. The Bobcats have no one behind Raja Bell on the depth chart, and Bell is now 32. Henderson is a great fit for the Bobcats, he is a defensive 2 guard and can learn the ins and out of NBA defense.Lets just hope he can learn to keep keep himself from doing this again, eerily similar to Bruce Bowen’s cheap shot on Nash, and god knows we don’t need another Bowen in the NBA.
13) Indiana: DeJuan Blair (Highlights) - Blair was a dominating presence on the offensive boards in college but it remains to be seen if he can replicate that success in the pros going against players that are 6-9+ every game. Blair could be the next “Round mound of rebound” or the next hilariously awful Tractor Traylor. Either way Blair adds depth to the front court of the Pacers along side Murphy and Hibbert to form a solid front court for the Pacers that will compliment Granger and the scoring backcourt.
14) Pheonix: Ty Lawson (Highlights) – how much longer are the Suns going to ignore the fact that Nash is getting old? Lawson is a perfect fit for Gentry’s offense and can put up Nash like numbers. Not only will Lawson love the run and gun offensive system the Gentry runs but he will love that he doesn’t have to play any defense.
15) Detroit: BJ Mullens (Highlights) – With both Rasheed Wallace likely testing the free agent waters the Pistons need to add some talent up front. This might be a bit of a reach as Mullens was disappointing in his freshman season, not dominating the way a 7 footer should in college and seeming unable to rebound despite his size. However Mullens has tremendous potential and could challenge for a starting position in his rookie season. Mullens will push for significant time in his rookie season along side Amir Johnson and Jason Maxiell. The youth movement starts now in Detroit.
16) Chicago: Earl Clark (Highlights) – matchup nightmare playing the 3 at 6-10 and can create for himself, should be a complimentary wing player with Salmons. In time should develop into the eventual replacement for Salmons on the depth chart. Clark will be able to shoot over most small forward defenders with his height and has the quickness to drive by slower power forward defenders. High end expectations: Rashard Lewis type player, Low end: another Joey Graham.
17) Philadelphia: Jrue Holiday (Highlights) – the starting 5 for the Sixers is set with the return of Brand, but Holiday can bring some scoring off the bench and eventually take over for the aging Miller. Holiday is extremely talented but was underwhelming at UCLA last season. This is the perfect position for Holiday because he can develop on the bench but will get a significant amount of time as the Sizers 6th man.
18) Minnesota: Jeff Teague (Highlights) – the Wolves add another scoring guard for their struggling backcourt. Teague who played PG in college is more of a scorer than a creater and might need to move to the 2. With Flynn selected with the 6th pick Teague will move to the off guard position behind Foye on the depth chart. Teague is the perfect 6th man because he can be subbed in for Flynn at the 1 and run the offense or for Foye at the 2 and provide scoring off the bench.
19) Atlanta: Terrence Williams (Highlights) – what does one of the best young team in the NBA need from the draft? Terrence Williams adds even more athleticism to one of the most athletic teams in the league. Johnson and Josh Smith are one of the best wing duos in the NBA but there is not much depth behind them so Williams adds another scorer to the team and some depth at the wing position.
20) Utah:Omri Casspi (Highlights) – The Jazz may lose Boozer in the offseason but as we saw last season Millsap will step in and play the PF position when Boozer leaves. The Jazz go with Casspi who will add depth at the SF/SG position and eventually take over for the disgruntled Andre Kirilenko if he leaves. Casspi is the second best international player behind super hyped Rubio and has the same skill set as former international Hedo Turkoglu.
21) New Orleans: Wayne Ellington (Highlights) – there are mixed reviews on Ellington, some say mid first round like me and others have him dropping all the way to the second round. I think Ellington has a deadly shot that is reminiscent of Rip Hamilton, but others point to his lack of elite athleticism as the reason why he won’t make it in the pros. With a legit scoring threat Chris Paul won’t be leaned on as heavily to score on offense and can focus on creating which made him the player who finished #2 in MVP voting in ‘07/’08.
22) Dallas: Eric Maynor (Highlights) – Both Terry and Kidd and 4 of the 5 Mavs starter over 3o so it is time to add some youth at the point. Maynor is a fiesty 1 who can create off the dribble and is a lockdown defender (good for their many games against Chris Paul) and leaves it all on the court everytime he plays. Maynor is start on the bench where he can learn from one of the best PGs ever, Jason Kidd, and eventually take over for the future HOF when he retires (at 37 that should be soon). Only issue, there are 6th graders stronger than Maynor.
23) Sacramento: Sam Young (Highlights) – Young is a dynamic scorer who can take pressure off Martin, Young will be a solid scoring 6th man for the Kings and could puch Garcia for the starting spot. The only issue with Young is that he is a senior and has pretty much reached his potential, he will come in and be a great rookie but does not have much room for improvement. Young is very similar to the Kings old 3 Salamons and if he earns the starting role will work well in their offense.
24) Portland: Tyler Hansbrough (Highlights) – Hansbrough’s numbers will take a big hit from college to the NBA, but he can be a solid contributer as an energy guy off the bench for the Blazers. Hansbrough adds some much needed toughness up front with Aldridge (lanky) and Oden (injury prone) not exactly the toughest players in the NBA. The upside on Hansbrough is non exsistent but he should have a Mark Madsen type career, which should be enjoyable for all involved if Hansbrough can realize it early and follow in the footsteps of bloggingly hilarious Mag Dog.
25) OK City: Austin Daye (Highlights) – I originally thought that Daye would make the desision to return to school to 1) improve his technique and 2) improve physically. If he had gone back Daye would probably been a top 5 pick based on his unlimited potential and his size/skill combo. If he stays in this draft he will likely be a first round pick based on his potential and should be allowed to develop. The Thunder are the best young team in the league and Daye adds to their future potential. Daye could be a Tayshaun Prince like player in the NBA.
26) Chicago: Marcus Thornton (Highlights) – Ben Gordon is a free agent this summer. He is likely returning to the Bulls but they should draft another scoring SG just in case he leaves for a bigger contract or a more intriguing team (Cleveland?). Thornton might be the best pure shooter in this draft after Stephen Curry. Thornton averaged over 20 points in his senior year and can bring some instant scoring off the bench if Gordon stays or rotate with Hinrich as the off guard. (Hinrich can play the 1 or 2 and will rotate between the two positions depending if Rose or Thornton is on the floor.)
27) Memphis: Derrick Brown (Highlights) – Brown is an athletic freak and will add depth behind Rudy Gay, Brown should be a solid 6th or 7th man off the bench. Brown is another lengthy forward with immense potential, but players like him are hit or miss in the NBA. I compare Derrick Brown to Julian Wright who I thought would be a solid NBA player, problem is Wright has been stuck on the bench his whole career and is already looking like a bust.
28) Minnesota: Chase Budinger (Highlights) – should provide a scoring threat in the backcourt other than Foye. With Foye, DeRozen, and Budinger the Timberwolves have a solid young backcourt to compliment Love and Jefferson up front. Budinger still needs to improve his consistency but he brings needed scoring from the 3 where Garcia is better defensively.
29) LA Lakers: Toney Douglas (Highlights) – Douglas had an amazing senior year when he averaged over 20 points a game and single handedly lead the Florida State Seminoles to the NCAA Tournament. Fisher has been the Lakers starting point guard for over a decade (minus a short stint in Utah) but is getting older and will likely retire soon. Douglas plays the point alot like Fisher, he is more of a scoring guard. That works well with the Lakers where Kobe handles the ball on the majority of the possesions and needs a player who can schore when called upon.
30) Cleveland: DaJuan Summers (Highlights) – can play the 2 or the 3 and can contribute as a 6th or 7th man off the bench for the very deep Lakers team. Summers was one of my favorite players in college too bad his team, Georgetown, managed to be god awful this season despite having one of the most talented rosters in college. Luckily for Summers he will be playing for the Lakers who have Kobe and are currently leading the Magic 2-1 in the NBA Finals.
Early second round picks who could jump to the first round:
Darren Collison: UCLA PG, Jeff Adrien: UConn PF, Dante Cunningham: Villinova SF, Taj Gibson: USC PF, Dionte Christmas: Temple SG, Patrick Mills: PG St. Mary’s, Jodie Meeks: Kentucky SG
For a hundreds of other Mock Drafts check out NBA Mock Draft Database.
-KC Roberts
FanSided
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